Wegovy and Ozempic maker forecasts sharp drop in revenue for 2026 04. February 2026 (11:51) Novo Nordisk share price plunges after blaming lower US drug prices, patent protection issues and rising competition The maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, has predicted a sharp drop in revenues this year owing to a push by Donald Trump to lower US weight-loss drug prices, rising competition and the loss of key patent protections.Denmark’s Novo , once the poster-child for the growth in weight-loss treatments, said sales this year were likely to fall between 5% and 13%, despite the launch of its new Wegovy pill in the US. Its share price plummeted 18% on Wednesday morning, erasing all gains so far this year. In the past year the stock has lost nearly 50% of its value. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine-Russia talks: negotiations begin in Abu Dhabi in wake of ‘massive’ strikes on Kyiv – Europe live 04. February 2026 (11:50) Both sides downplay chances of immediate breakthrough in US-brokered talks as western allies reportedly weigh new defence pactRussian forces attacked the Odesa region of Ukraine’s south last night damaging homes and critical infrastructure, according to the regional governor, Oleg Kiper.He posted the following statement on Telegram:At night, the enemy carried out a massive attack with strike drones on the Odesa region. Damage to civilian, residential and industrial infrastructure was recorded.In the city of Odesa, about 20 residential buildings and cars were damaged. Four people were rescued from the rubble, but one person was unfortunately injured. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli strikes kill 18 in Gaza and patient crossings at Rafah halted, Palestinian officials say 04. February 2026 (11:29) Four children among dead as restrictions on evacuations put in place days after reopening of crossing to EgyptIsraeli tank shelling and airstrikes have killed 18 people, including four children, in Gaza and Israel has halted the evacuation of patients through the Rafah border crossing, Palestinian officials have said.The Israeli military said it fired on Gaza after a gunman shot at Israeli soldiers and seriously injured a reservist. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woody Allen’s wife, Soon-Yi Previn, told Epstein that #MeToo movement ‘went too far’ 04. February 2026 (11:00) She also smeared teen victim of former congressman Anthony Weiner as ‘despicable and disgusting’ , files showSoon-Yi Previn, the wife of the film director Woody Allen, sent emails to Jeffrey Epstein telling the convicted sex offender that the #MeToo justice movement “has gone too far” – and smearing an underage girl at the center of a sexting case as “despicable and disgusting” rather than the former US congressman who went to prison for illicitly messaging the minor, according to recently released government files.At one point, Previn also wrote about how her stepbrother Ronan Farrow received more “prestige … than he deserves” in a New York Times article published months after his journalism about Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul and now-convicted sex offender, won a share of a Pulitzer prize and kicked off the #MeToo movement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Death of Nigerian singer after snakebite highlights crisis of ‘preventable’ fatalities 04. February 2026 (11:00) Ifunanya Nwangene died in hospital after being bitten in her Abuja home, raising questions about the availability of effective antivenomsIn a last message to her friends, Ifunanya Nwangene wrote: “Please come.”The 26-year-old singer and former contestant on The Voice Nigeria had been bitten by a snake while asleep in her flat in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and was in hospital, anxiously awaiting treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pinterest sacks two engineers for creating software to identify fired workers 04. February 2026 (10:48) Digital pinboard business cutting 15% of workforce as it invests heavily in AI Pinterest has fired two engineers who created a software tool to identify which workers had lost their jobs in a recent round of cuts and then shared the information, according to reports.The digital pinboard business announced significant job cuts earlier this month, with the chief executive, Bill Ready, telling staff he was “doubling down on an AI-forward approach”, according to a LinkedIn post by a former employee. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer orders release of files relating to Mandelson US ambassador decision 04. February 2026 (10:40) Pressure grows on PM over ex-minister’s Jeffrey Epstein links as Tories criticise move to withhold some recordsUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer will attempt to get ahead of the widening scandal over Peter Mandelson’s conduct with the expected release of files relating to his appointment as Britain’s US ambassador, in what a minister has described as “drawing a line in the sand”.The Conservatives had been preparing to force the publication of the records – including what Mandelson may have told Starmer about his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before being appointed to Washington – with a motion in the Commons. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rail firm issues ‘do not travel’ alert after ‘multiple incidents’ across south-east England 04. February 2026 (10:13) Signalling issue and train derailment in south London hits Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express servicesA “do not travel” alert has been issued by the UK’s largest railway franchise, after a train derailment and signalling issues affected services across south-east England.Train operators Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express – all part of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise in south-east England – urged passengers not to travel on Wednesday morning “if at all possible” because of “multiple incidents”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy becomes mascot for year of the horse in China 04. February 2026 (09:47) Mandarin transliteration of character’s name regarded as auspicious, prompting wave of memes and fan artDraco Malfoy, one of Harry Potter’s most recognisable villains, has become an unlikely lunar new year icon across China, as fans embrace the character for the year of the horse.In Mandarin, Malfoy’s name is transliterated as “mǎ ěr fú”. The first character means “horse” while the final character, “fú”, means “fortune” or “blessing” – a powerful symbol found across lunar new year celebrations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jacob Hersant becomes first Australian jailed for doing Nazi salute after losing appeal 04. February 2026 (08:57) Judge says neo-Nazi’s offending outside Melbourne court was ‘contemptuous’ and Hersant ‘relished’ the opportunity to do itFar-right extremist Jacob Hersant has been jailed for one month after losing an appeal against his Nazi salute conviction.The 26-year-old looked straight ahead as Victorian county court judge Simon Moglia re-sentenced him on Wednesday for the “contemptuous” offending. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
